Transit expansions are providing incentives to companies to locate outside of city centers, upending traditional housing, work, and commute patterns.
"Rather than shuttling commuters between bedroom communities and downtown offices, the latest transit-oriented developments, or TODs, are focusing on the dual benefits of consistent transit use and economic development outside major city centres," writes Adam Bisby.
The goal, says Bisby, is to create transit-oriented development (TOD) hubs around stations that support a mix of housing and commercial development and that encourage bidirectional travel to keep these areas constantly active. "While Canada ‘has not pushed commercial TOD enough,’ according to [Ahmed] El-Geneidy, progress is being made where major transit expansions are now under way," notes Bisby.
The announcement of rail extensions and new projects, including the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) light rail system in the Montreal area and Hurontario Light Rail Transit (LRT) in the Toronto area, have sparked suburban development surges. The benefits for employers are lower rents and employee retention in suburban areas with transit access that provide the amenities of downtown centers.
FULL STORY: Transit fuels building surge outside of downtown core
Does Downtown San Diego Measure Up as a 'Vibrant Downtown'?
Piggybacking on John Karras's article, "12 Strategies That Will Transform Your City’s Downtown" (posted in Planetizen as "12 Strategies for Revitalizing Downtowns" on 2/26/1014), Bill Adams takes a look at how downtown San Diego measures up.
San Diego Satellite Town Asks: Smart Growth or Trojan Horse?
San Diego County's "most walkable city" is being challenged to identify the real smart growth: what it has or what is being proposed. At issue: a plan amendment for a high density project near transit. But is the project real?
As Canada Grows, Transit a Key Component of Success
The population in Canada will increase substantially in the future, and transit planning is crucial to ensuring that cities thrive.
The Top Urban Planning Books of 2021
Planetizen's annual list of the top urban planning books of the year is here—maintaining a tradition that dates back to 2002.
The Roadway Expansion Paradox
Motorists want expensive roadway expansions provided that somebody else foots the bill, but when required to pay directly through tolls, the need for more capacity often disappears. What should planners do?
Urban Exodus: Data Don't Support the Popular Pandemic Narrative
Americans fled cities in waves during the pandemic, right? Not to so fast.
Measuring the Economic Impact of the Great Allegheny Passage
Small communities once dependent on coal, coke, paper, lumber, and manufacturing now have a 150-mile bike and pedestrian path contributing to the local economy.
Houston Could End Homelessness With Less Than 2,000 Housing Units
Houston's homeless response program has yielded strong results in the last few years. Just 1,900 new affordable housing units could 'effectively end' homelessness in the city.
Land Use Regulations on a Collision Course in California
The future of planning in California depends on how lawyers reconcile the Housing Accountability Act with the California Environmental Quality Act.
Nelson\Nygaard
BRAILSFORD & DUNLAVEY
Water Replenishment District (WRD)
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of San Carlos
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Royal Oak, Michigan
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Hand Drawing Master Plans
This course aims to provide an introduction into Urban Design Sketching focused on how to hand draw master plans using a mix of colored markers.
